Automatic knitting machine



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R. W. SCOTT AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1921 13Sheets-Sheet 12 um. mg 3.4mm

Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE,

ROBERT W. SCOTT, F BABYLON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SCOTT .AND WILLIAMS,

1110., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC xm'r'rme MACHINE.

This invention relates to knitting machines adapted to knit ribbedfabric or plain fabric, and especially adapted to knit articles ofhosiery containing both ribbed-fabric and lain-fabric parts, as forexample, to knit y a continuous operation a stocking of the half-hosetype having a rib top with a welt, an integral joint between the ribtop' and the plain'knit leg portion, and the usual or any desired typeof heel, foot and toe. The

product may, however, be of any sort capable of being formed bycirculatory or reciprocating motions on two series of needles, or oneither series in turn and the method practiced is capable of variation.I shall herein describe and claim a new and advantageous stocking andthe method of ,making it, as specific instances of the product andmethod.

One ob'e'ct of the invention is to provide a machine aving all of thecustomary plainfabric stocking-knitting appliances, such as usuallyemployed in knitting the leg, heel, foot and toe portions of a stocking,with.devices also capable of knitting a welted rib top and passingtherefrom, by the automatic operation of the machine, into plain fabricfor the leg. Another object of the invention is to provide for thesepurposes improved such a machine, in order automatically to produce theribbed parts of the product.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide, under theseconditions, a machine capable of knitting continuously a successlon ofarticles corresponding to the product,-

each article being complete, except for the closure of the toe seam.Other objects of the invention are to provide for the im rovedmanufacture of ribbed fabric, for t e improved formation of tubularwelts in ribbed fabric; for the improved formation of loose courses inknit fabric, and for the improved performance of transfer operations,wheremechanism adapted for combination with by, for instance, apredetermined series of While other objects will appear in the.

course of the following description, a general object of my invention istocombine devices for automatic coordination for the above and otherpurposes, and within the severe conditions set by limitations of spaceand necessity for non-interference between the several agencies of amachine of-the circular stocking nitting type, so that the newcombination shall still be capable of correct, reliable and automaticperformance of all of the old as well as of the new functions reachingthe objects above mentioned, and thus be adapted to turn out products ofuniformexcellence with a minimum of attention by the operator.

The invention includes, for these and other purposes, new knittinginstruments -holder instruments, with their actuating means, adapted tocooperate for the purpose of aiding the knitting and cast-oif functions,and replacing the fabric take-up usual in rib-knitting machines. j

These devices are combined with means for at least one of the'series ofa rib-knitting 3 adapted to the new devices for automaticallycontrolling the length of stitch in anew way, and for automaticallyadjusting the machine to accommodate its agencies to the successivedifferent parts of its product, as

these areiprod uced. Certain automatic operating connections,hereinafter referred to,

have also been improved over their p'rotodesigned to 3 July 17, 1915,and'No. 1,282,958 dated Oct,

29, 1918, while the general function may be regarded as an improvementupon and s1 1pplement to that carried out by the machme of my Patent No.834,7 63, dated October 30, 1906.

I shall now explain my invention in connection with a specificembodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation of the machine, parts being in section;

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 on anenlarged scale; u Fig.2 is a scale showin difi'erent positions of thedial needles an of the c lmder ver and web-holders in relation to ig. 2;ig. 3 is a development of the c linder cams, showing certain of the neede-butts and their actuating means;

Fig. 3" is a diagram showing relative motions of cylinder and dialneedles;

Fi s. 4 and 5 are lens in section through the dial cams showlng thepreferred relation of the dial cams to the cylinder cams by comparisonwith Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged exterior development of a part of the dial verge,the fabric tensionin fins or ribs on the dial, the cylinder an dialneedles, and the web-holders;

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 are enlar ed elevations of two different kinds of we-holders employed;

i 9 is an enlar 6. detail of Fig. 2, showing a preferred orm oftensioning fin for the dial;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation;

Fig. 11 is a plan, and

Fig. 12 an underplan of the web-holder cam cap;

Fig. 13 a section on line 13--13 on Flgs. 11 and 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail right side elevation on a reduced scale of theconnections for rais- .ing and lowering the dial and for working Figs.18 to 23 inclusive are enlarged ver tical radial sections illuatratialeaccessive positions of the respective -n' during the "motions forribknitting;' I

Fi 24 is a similar view showing the.

position of the parts during making of a Y oose course;

Figs. 251:0 inclusive are similar'viewa showing successive of thev partswhen transferring a dial loop to a cylinder needle;

Figs. 30 and 31 are sections respectively on lines 30-30 of Fig. 18 and31-31 of Fi 20;

Figs. 32, '32. and 32 show modified forms of dial instruments;

Fig. 33 is a diagram plan showing the relations of the different kindsof operating butts of the knitting instruments;

ig. 34 is an elevation of a typical product;

Fig. 35 is a die am back or inside view enlarged of the fa ric atarea a"of Fig. 34, showing the cylinder needles in relation to the fabric;

Fig. 36 is a diagram'in plan illustrating the relation of the dial and clinder instruments to the fabric during t e transfer Fig. 34.

Fig. 38 is. a diagram in plan illustrating a development of a series ofweb-holders, the needles with which they co-operate, and the fabric withwhich they co-operate, for explanation of the operation of thewebholders. i

The invention, which is ca able of use with many different ty es ofitting machines, will best be un erstood by explaining the new parts andcombinations as employed in relation to the type illustrated by my saidPatent No. 1,282,958, and by ex.- plaining the operation in connectionwith one species only of the products capable of being made by it. Thisdescription therefore refers to the machine as adapted to make such arib-top, plain-fabric-leg stocking or half-hose as shown in Fig. 34,com-- prisin the welt W, the rib-top T, the leg hee h and toe t, the tophaving as many wales as the leg, and the direction of knitting beingfrom top to toe. The machine is,

however, ca able of knitting many other fabrics, an of knittin theillustrated fabric in other ways. n the machine shown, the needlecarriers rotate and the cams are relatively fixed, but the oppositearrangement is within the invention.

The machine generally-Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the machine frameparts B, etc, the drive-shaft 32, and connections a 31 and 9" 9 1 9, 9x9 9' .9" p

tively for driving 1n unison the. cylinder 260, the dial-spindle a7 anddial D concentrio with the cylinder and rotatable in a bearing d ofbracket A on the latch-guard 550, may all be substantially as shown insaid Patent No. 1,282,958. The ring- 550 dial D, and theirattachments'are p1votecl at 552, and may be lifted awayfrom relation tothe other parts.

a The meansjor rotating andreci'procating the shaft 32, the pattern-drum120 and its driving connections 121, 122, 123; the camshaft 80 and itsattachments, the primary pattern chain (not shown) and the thrustbars460 serving as operating connections to parts controlled by drum 120 maybe substantially those of said Patents Nos. 1,152,- 850 and 1,282,958.

' As in said patents, the needles of the-cylinder 260. may be dividedinto a long-butt segment for the inste and a short butt segment for theheel an toe, and for heel and toe knitting may cooperate with automaticyarn-changing means F, with the switchcam 415, the pickers, the cam-ring271 and the knitting cams 357, 360, 361, Fig. 3, as therein explained,to knit plain-fabric hosiery' articles, with narrowed and widened heelsand toesfif so desired. The cylinder needles may be any desired t pe ofneedle, shown as latch needles n, having long butts n and short butts11. see Fig. 33. Recurrent needles among these, shown as alter-' nateneedles, are ever-active needles, and are provided with jacks 380actuated by a cam 366, adapted to lift them above a normal elevel 40, atwhich their latches are not cleared of the previous loop, to a levelhigh enough to clear their latches. The upper surfaces of the respectivestitch-cams 360 361, lift and clear the latches of all needles reachingthem. In the diagrams, ever-active needles and butts are shown in 0 enoutline, and the occasionally-active nee' les or butts are indicated inblack.

The drum 120 is moved, when permitted to be moved, in time with theassage by certain points if the cam-ring o? the longbutt or thesholt-butt segments of needles, andat these points respectivelyoperating cams 4 and 25, 8 and 20 are movable (by appropriateconnections to cams on said drum) toward and from the needle-cylinder instages, to permit their partial insertion during passage of theshort-butts, to first operate the leading long-butt needles, and

to permit complete insertion before passage Their withdrawal is in 'drum120, or shaft 80, or their attachments,

as induced by the primary pattern chain.

The needle cylinder is 'verticall movable in respect to the dial D, thelatc -ring 550 and cam ring 271 for the purpose of altering the relationof the cylinder and dial, and also for altering the relation of thelimits of the vertical stroke of the cylinder needles to theknocking-over line at the verge of the cylinder. This line is determinedby the upper surface of web-holders, presently mentioned, workingbetween the needles, and bearing on an attachment of the c linder. Thevefli'ect of lowering the cylin er is to lower the web-holders andrelatively to raise the top and bottom limits of the motion of theneedles in respect to the web-holders. Means for automatically raisingand lowering the cylinder preferablycomprise the lever 281 pivoted onthe frame stud 450, and having arms 281 and 286 respectively contactingwith cams on drum 120 and with a lug on a'tube 280,

upon which the bottom bearing for cylinder 260 rests, all as shown in myPatent No. 1,152,850 above, and my Patent No. 1,189,- 220 dated June 27,1916.

Motion of the needle cylinder vertically is made use of in connectionwith changeable positions of the dial, for new purposes explained below,as well as for the usual purposes The needle diaZ.-The dial D, see Figs.2, 6, 9 and 16, is rigidly attached to the dial spindle d, is radiallygrooved at d for its knitting instruments, and. is peripherally groovedat d to define a narrow circular verge d an appropriate short distanceconcentrically within the space defined by the backs of the cylinderneedles a. The bottom surface of the dial slopes upwardly at a? todefinethe narrow verge d There are in the dial at. least as many groovesd as there are jackless or occasionally-active cylinder needles n.During ribknitting, these jackless needles are withdrawn, by thedividing cam 4 and the groove under the leading switch cam, beneath thelevel of the dial needles, Fig. 6. The relative rotative positions ofcylinder and dial are such as to bring the dial grooves 0Z into the sameradial planes as the cylinder grooves for the jackless needles. Theeveractive cylinder needles n, those with jacks, thus work in the radialplanes bisecting the angles defined by adjacent dial needles w, b, -andwith them constitute the face-Wale series of needles and back-Waleseries of needles respectively cooperating with the yarn to knit ribbedfabric. As shown, there are as many dial needles as there are ever-.

active cylinder needles, and the rib pattern is one-and-one.

The dial needles are operated by cams on the relatively stationarycam-cap D, as

presently on lained.

'holders w of two kinds, w and cu Figs. 7

and 8, one web-holder working or lying in sis a radial plane betweenevery pair of the needles 12; and hence lying in the plane bisecting theangle between a dial-needle groove and the ever-active needle on eachside ofit. In such of these planes as lie on one side only of a dialneedle groove, the under surface of the dial is provided with downwardlyprojecting fins or partitions (Z which may be thin pieces of metal fastin radial grooves of the dial, and each having a beveled outer face andsmooth lower edges. These fins thus lie directly over the positions ofcertain of the web-holders, for example,

of the alternate web-holders marked Fig. 6. lVhen the rib pattern isone-andone, as shown, the fins (Z are as numerous as the dlal needles,or the ever-active needles,

and are displaced from the dial grooves and the ever-active needlesthrough one-quarter of the angular distance between the dial needlegrooves, and similarly displaced in the opposite direction from theever-active needles. For other patterns of rib, alternate dial groovesmay be disused or not provided, but half as many fins as there arewebholders are preferably provided in any case.

The alternate web-holders under the fins (Z are plain webholders such asshown at 10, Fig. 7, having upper arms recessed at to, below the level wof the throats under the hooks 10 serving to prevent rise of the fabricwith the needles, and having rounded inner ends w Otherwise theweb-holders 'w are of any desired type, but preferably are of thestraight sliding type each provided with an upper arm 10, a parallellower arm having a straight bottom 10 and have operating butts w some ofwhich may be short butts 10 and a notch w for a spring band w, Fig. 2.In these respects the web-holders, as well as the web-holder supportingand guiding means, may correspond to the disclosure of my applicationSerial No. 372,387, filed April 9, 1920 (Pat: ent No. 1,467,671,September 11, 1923).

The function of the web-holders w is that usual in the art, the fabricbeing held down by the hooks 10 against rising with the needle and theknocking-over line being established in respect to the level to of aweb-holder slightly withdrawn in respect to a downgoing needle. Theweb-holders w are placed recurrently among the other wcbholders to asfrequently as necessary to provide a web-holder 4,0 for each fin d.

The web-holders w are tensioning webholders, which have the arms of, w,the hold-down hooks 10 the upper surface 10, and the operating butts wor 10 but the inward end of the arm 10 is not recessed. On the contrary,this arm is roughened, serrated or provided with forwardly projectingpoints 10, preferably arranged in rounding relation about the end of theupper arm w, and adapted on the forward stroke from the region of thesurface w within and over the end of the arm w, and to release thefabric on the rearward stroke.

That is to say, this action takes place when the fabric is properlypresented to the tensioning web-holders 10 This occurs when the dial islow or the cylinder is high so that the partitions or fins d on the dialthen serve to force the fabric downward between each pair of web-holders'w and into certain engagement with the fabric-feeding serrations w ofthe tensioning web-holders e0 Fig. 2 shows the dial at the positionmarked IV in the scale, Fig. 2, which is the preferred position, forinstance, toward the end of knitting of the welt, the cylinder thenbeing at a high position II. As shown in Fig. 2, the fins 0! present theleading end of the fabric (e. g., the edge fold of a welt) in positionfor certain engagement by the serrations of the web-holders 'w If theseweb-holders are now making their normal short movement, the serrations wwill engage and evenly arrange the leading edge fold of the fabric andfeed it inward and downward as it grows, and thus be prepared,

upon closer approach of cylinder and dial (when the dial moves down toposition III, for instance) to engage the fabric firmly between everydial wale and the cylinder wale next to it on one side, at a pointnearer the needles, upon the withdrawal abnormally of these web-holdersfor the purpose of exerting their full tensioning effect during ribknitting. This preparatory arrangement of the leading edge of the fabricis advantageous to the product as well as important to certainty ofoperation, as more fully explained below.

l/Vhen, either by lowering the cylinder 260 or elevating the dial D, thefins d are moved substantially above the position indicated in Figs. 2and 6 with relation to the plain web-holders '11), then the operation ofthe web-holders does not differ from the wellunderstood usual operationresulting from the usual relation of web-holders to the needles and tothe fabric formed by the single set of needles which theyinterpenetrate.

Operation of the web-iwlders.-The marked take-up or tensile stress onthe fabric capable of being effected by operation of the tensioningweb-holders to will not takeplace when these web-holders are movedthrough a short reciprocal stroke, sufficient only for production of theweb-holder function, i. e., upon withdrawal only sufiicient to determinestitch-length by recession below the levels to of the hooks of theneedles, and to determine knocking-over of the old loops; and uponinsertion only suificient to present the hook 10 over the yarn between lltl the loops. In that case the forward motion of the tensioningweb-holders 10 after the serrations w have engaged the fabric may be thesame as or less than the length of the new courseknit. 1

At times the web-holders may be given an abnormal stroke byautomatically controlled means mentionedbelow, for the purpose ofplacing the fabric under tensile stress. For instance, when ribbedfabric is being made, or when loops are to be transferred, it isdesirable to place stress on the fabric to pull over the old loop on thedial needles; or to assist knocking-over by the cylinder needles duringidleness of the dial needles; or to hold the transferred loops in thehooks of the needles to which they have been transferred.

Referring now to Fig. 38, the operation of the web-holders 'w and 'w maybe understood by. following the progression of knitting from yarn Y on aseries of instruments thereinshown, which correspond to the sameinstruments illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 18. Assume, for example,that knitting is proceeding on the needles 7?. from top to tom in Fig.38, alternate needles n only being active (as will be the case whenmak-j ing a welt, Fig. 18, for example). Allof the web-holders, whichnormally are withdrawn at as to the maximum radial position illustratedby the line at, are now being withdrawn to the abnormal position :0 Therecesses between points w" of the serrated section of the web-holders wengage the previously formed fabric, and upon the webholders beingprojected at m to the normalextent, the result will be to place thewales from the needles 1:. on either side of the webholders 'w under anabnormal tension sufficient for the purpose explained.

The operations indicated in diagram in i Fig. ,38 have been simplifiedby conventionally illustrating a short segment of the instrumentsdeveloped into a straight series, but it will be understood that thediagram applies as well to needles in a circular series, and web-holdersin radial position. f

Where the fabric is not in course of growth, at places away from thewaves of motion in the needles, it is desirable to maintain a gentlepressure on the fabric.

Where it is desired to make loose courses, this invention provides fordoing this by placing pressure upon the fabric while the cylinderneedles are still drawing yarnfrom the source of supply, so that theknockedover cylinder stitch pulls the new or incoming yarn between thecylinder and dial needles toward the center of the machine. For thispurpose, the tens'ioning web-holders are inserted in a wave earlier inphase, in respect to the knitting-wave, than normal,

to press upon the fabric during and after.

knocking-over on the series ofneedles which knit in primary relation tothe other series;

as shown, the cylinder needles are the primary needles.

During plain-fabric knitting, the" stress upon the fabric is maintainedby the webholders in the usual way, and is sulficient to cause thefabric to pass downwardly within cylinder 260. Means for giving therelated motions to the cylinder and dial andthe webstud 124 and havingone end in contact with cam 122*, a screw stop 122 reacting with themachine frame, and having a vertical operating connection 125. Y

The connection 125 passes up behind the drum 120 to a link '126 pivotedto the connection 125 and to the latch-ring pivot post 401. The upperend of the connection 125 is provided with an adjustable piece 127taking under a lever 128 pivoted at 129 in the fore and aft slot 130 1,see Fig. 2, formed in.

the gear-casing B orming a art of the bracket A attached to the latering 550. The lever 128 thus stands between the upward extension of thedial spindle d and the gear 9 forming a part of the driving traintherefor. The dial spindle is splined at g to slide through and rotatewith the gear 9 and is provided with an arm d held to a bearing upon theupper end of the dial spindle d by a cap d fastened through a bore inthe arm d to the dial spindle d. The arm-cl carries a downwardlyextending adjustment screw 03 lying above the lever 128, and is alsoprovided with a steadying connection at extending through a hole inbracket A to the dial cap D presently mentioned. These arrangements aresuch that up and down motion of the rear end of the lever 128 will movethe dial (and the dial cap resting upon its upper face) verticallythrough the desired small distances, in time with the rotary motions ofthe gear 122 and cam 122.

It will be observed that the vertical motions of the cylinder 260,controlled through the lever 281 and the drum 120, arethus coordinatedwith the means for vertically positioning the dial.

' The connection 125 carries on one" face pins 132 for a lost-motionconnection with one arm of the bell-crank lever 133 centred on the stud47 2 and having an upwardly extending arm adapted to operate a link 134for moving a cam on the web-holder cam cap 305 presently described. Itwill be observed that this arrangement is such as to enable the dial tobe positioned as desired by motions of connection 125 through an upperrange of its movements; and to enable the connection 134 to be pulledupon during a lower range of its movements. Surfaces on the cam 122 foroperating both the dial positioning means and the web holder campositioning means can thus be accommodated, since these parts areoperated consecutively.

The web-holder actuating devices are comprised of means for resilientlygiving the web-holders inserting and positively giving them withdrawingmotions, preferably supplemented by the spring band w encircling theWeb-holders and in the notches 'w", for maintaining tension on thefabric at other points than at the waves of motion in the web-holders.In each instance the inthrow or active phase of the wave of motion inthe. web-holders is caused by a spring-held cam or the spring band 10The strength of these spring pressures measures the maximum efiort ofthe web-holders, and this maximum effort is less than the forcenecessary to rupture the fabric.

Referring now to Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, the web-holder cam cap 300is provided with a concentric groove 301 for the butts of theweb-holders and with the web-holder withdrawing cam 307 pivoted at 370and having an actuating pin 371 taking through a slot 372 for actuationby a lever 373 pivoted on the upper face of the web-holder cam cap at374. The tail 375 of the lever 374 is acted upon by one arm of a bellcrank lever 376 pivoted at 377 and actuated by a connecting rod 135,(see Fig. 16) passing through a hole in the upper arm of hell cranklever 136 pivoted on the left hand end of the stud 472, and adapted tobe actuated by a thrust bar 460 in contact with cams 137 on the drum120. Preferably the bar 460 is held down by a tension sprmg 138.

So much of the connection as described provides for the positivepattern-operated control of the position of the cam 307. When thrownoutwardly, the eifect of the cam 307 is to withdraw all of the webholders further than normal, thus to cause a longer stroke of theweb-holders in respect to an inward throw of all the web-holders causedby cams presently to be mentioned, which inward throw is not altered bythe motion of the cam 307.

cams is attained by the adjustable spring pressure of adjustable springplungers 383 i and 363 respectively. The plungers 363 and383 are carriedby brackets 384v and the of the lever 373, the lever 376 may be thenarranged, as best shown in Fig. 13, to encounter the screw 365 on thecam 306 and move this cam outwardly. For the present purposes, the cam308, being normally positioned for the inward phase of the webholdermotions, is not operated except by its spring plunger 383, but it isobvious that said cam might be automatically operated by a still furthermotion of the lever 37 6 against an upward continuation of the screwstop 385, if it should be so desired.

Variation of stitch-length by the web- 72.0Zders.The web-holder cam capalso carries, as usual, the pivoted cam 312 so positioned when heldinward as to act on the longer butts 10 of the web-holders only, forinstance of the se ment associated with and overlapping theshort-buttneedles, see Fig. 33, to cause them to be inserted at an early time inrespect to the stitch cam, to determine longer stitches in certainsegments only of the fabric, e. g., during splicing on the correspondingneedles.

7 The inthrow cam 306 is in an angular sense in advance of the normallyplaced inthrow cam 308, and when in the position shown in Fig. 12, theeffect of this cam, see Figs. 3, 24 and 25, is to throw in theweb-holders at an earlier time in respect to the operation of thecylinder stitch cam. If the cam 307 is outwardly displaced at this time,the tensioning web-holders 'w and the web-holders in will make a longstroke ending inwardly at the normal place, but

the early timing of the advancing phase of the wave caused by the cam306 willresult in pressing inwardly the'fabric by the action ofserrations of the web-holders 'w While the needles next to thisweb-holder are still drawing their new loops, and after they have castoff. If rib knitting is proceeding under these circumstances, the resultis to take a great deal of yarn into the rib course, for instance, 7,Figs. 24, 25,

35 and 36, affected by the operation of the cam 306. By this means I amenabled accurately to form the desired number ofcourses of loosestitches for a transfer operationpresently to be explained.

The normally placed web-holder cam 308, being *forced inwardly'with anadjustable hook n.

force by spring plunger 383, may be relied upon, when the cam 307 isdisplaced outwardly, to exert upon the fabric through web-holders 'w atake-up tension not exceeding the maximum permitted by the force of theplunger 383. Adjustment of the spring by screw 382 fixes accurately thetension desired.

Aid of web-ladders in transfew'z'ng -The Web-holder cam cap also carriesan inthrow cam 305 at a point in advance of the stitch cams, coincidentwith the place of operation of the dividing cam 4, and following theneedle-advancing phase of transfer devices described below. Cam 305 ispivoted at 351 and is held inward by a leaf spring 352 acting on a pin354 in the cam. Inward motion of this cam is limited by an adjustablestop 355, and outward motion and inward release are automaticallyeffected by the link 134, and the connection 133, 125, 122 to cam 122,Fig. 14. When in use, cam 305 holds the Web-holders inward to placepressure on stitches transferred to the cylinder needles during thedrawing-down movement of the needles at dividing cam 4. Outward-motionof the courses preceding these held inward by the web-holders, whichtakes place during transfer at the wave 6 Fig. 3, is not interfered Withby the webholders, which yield against the tension of band w, and serveto maintain enough tension only on the transferred loops to make theposition and. the open state of these loops certain. I

The dial needles.-The instruments of the dial for many purposes of thisinvention may be any kind of needle. Preferred needles, such as thoseshown, are particularly adapted to perform a transfer operation, andparticularly adapted for rib knitting as members of a secondary seriesof ribknitting needles. In my application Serial No. 378,233, filed Ma1, 1920, (Letters Patent No. 1,385,929, uly 26, 1921) I- have describedand claimed two-part needles of the generaltype which I prefer to use inthe dial of my present machine. I have improved the construction ofthese needles to enable them to transfer-their loops, and for thecoaction of their two members with each other and with needles of thecylinder series.

'Referring now to Figs. 18, 20, 30 and 31, the loop-drawing or hookmember a may comprise a shank n having a hook 92., facing upwardlytoward the line n of the upper face of the shank n, and having a grooveof on its upper face for an independently movable point member '6adapted tocoope'rate with yarn loops received or drawn by the In thepreferred construction herein shown, shank a near its butt end isupwardly extended at n and bears a butt n, the member 02, being groovedat n in line with the up er face 12.? of shank of, and through about alfthe thickness of the shank 12F, and thus being adapted to receive andposition laterally and vertically a slightly bentspring tail n of thecooperating member b. The member I) is provided with an operating buttn, and with a backwardly-facing loop-penetrating and carrying point 12."defined by a throat it. The shank may be beveled away on one face atthroat n, as shown at n. The member b is further provided with an endpoint a, which may define with the rounded fore part of the needle anotch n The member I) at and between points 12", n is "reduced inthickness to enter groove n", as shown in Fig. 31. The notch n may insome cases merely be the angle between the point a and the generalcontour of the head end of the member 6, as shown in Figs. 32 and 32 Theneedle members aand b are assembled together in a dial groove, theinterlocking groove n and the tail 71 holding both parts againstseparation or unintentional motion in their groove. In operation, member6, by its point n", takes and lifts the old loop over hook n forknitting, by positive motions in respect to n, and, when desired,receives a loop or bight from hook n on its end point 12 for the purposeof transferring the loop or bight, or a previous loop carried by thereceived loop, to a needle of 'the other carrier. Preferably, the looptransferred is the loop of the last course previous to that containingtheloop carried by point n-, the transferred loop thus being under thethroat n, and not the same loop impaled upon the point n at the time ofthe transfer.

Operation of the needZes.--The dial needles are operated by cams carriedby the dial cam cap D, severally comprising knitting cams and transfercams adapted to be independently positioned, and correspondingrespectively to the cooperating knitting cams and transfer cams for thecylinder needles. Assuming the machine to be adjusted for ;making theillustrative product shown in Fig. 34, the principal operations arefirst, to

begin knitting by cooperation" of the dial and cylinder needles for asetting-up course; second, to make fabric for a welt, while needles ofone carrier, remain idle; third, to knit ribbed fabric; fourth to makeloose-courses; fifth, to transfer the dial lo ops'to the cylinder; andsixth, to knit a plain-fabric leg, heel, foot and toe for the stockingon the cylinder needles, the dial needles being idle and held out of theway during the knitting of the leg, heel, foot, and toe of the stocking.

Referring now to Fig. 3, these results may be accomplished when theparts a and b of the dial needles are arranged, at the desired times inthe operation, first, to remain idle

